Josh Beckett secured his place at the top of the Red Sox starting rotation with a solid no-decision last night at Fenway Park.

Beckett was dangling on the hook of a 2-1 loss when pinch-hitter Jarrod Saltalamacchia crushed a two-run walkoff home run to lift the Red Sox to a 3-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays. The Sox evened the series and will play the rubber game this afternoon.

"That was awesome; that's a better way to win anyway," said Beckett. "I can get a no-decision for the rest of my starts this year, it's not that big a deal if we win them all like that."

Beckett remained at 4-4 after nine starts, but saw his ERA dip to 4.15. The veteran right-hander threw seven stellar innings while engaged in a thrilling pitchers' duel with Rays southpaw David Price, who was in position to pick up his seventh win of the season when he left the game after seven.

Beckett was the more efficient of the two, throwing 91 pitches to Price's 115. Beckett allowed two runs on four hits with two walks and five strikeouts against 26 Rays batters. Price scattered eight hits and allowed one run with three walks and five strikeouts while facing 30 Sox batters.